The Department of Public Works and Utilities

70 Allen St. Room 2, (413) 499-9330. This department has jurisdiction over the city's water supply, wastewater treatment system, solid waste disposal and roads. Permits and inspections for new connections and repairs to the City water and sewer systems are handled through this department as is all engineering for city projects.

Water/Sewer/Drain Department

901 Holmes Rd., (413) 499-9339. The water division of the DPU oversees the water system including the two plants that treat water taken from the Cleveland and Ashley reservoirs.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

901 Holmes Rd., (413) 499-9304. The wastewater treatment plant processes the city's sewage as well as that from Dalton and parts of Hinsdale, Lenox and Lanesboro. The plant is also used for disposal by private septic tank cleaning companies. Towns and private haulers who use the plant are charged a fee equal to the cost to the city for processing.

Highway Maintenance

232 West Housatonic St., (413) 499-9314. The Public Works Department maintains 180 miles of accepted streets, 20 miles of unaccepted streets and more than 200 vehicles operated by various city departments.

Garbage Disposal Department of Public Works

499-9330, or Allied Waste, (413) 442-8390. Residential trash and recyclables are picked up at curbside by Allied Waste, a private hauler contracted by

Advertisement
the city, and taken to the Eco trash-to-steam plant on Hubbard Avenue.

Residents may also take trash to the Hubbard Avenue plant or the burning facility but are required to have a permit that is issued directly from Eco. Non resident's permits are issued from the Department of Public Works.

RECYCLING INFORMATION

- All materials to be picked up must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m.

- Recyclables must be clean and placed in clearly marked containers and kept separate from rubbish.

- Pickups are weekly with recyclables alternating from week to week.

- Cans, bottles and certain plastic containers rinsed, flattened and with caps removed are to be placed in containers clearly labeled for recyclables and kept separate from trash.

- Paper that may be recycled includes newspapers and advertising inserts; white and colored paper, flattened corrugated cardboard, magazines, catalogs, brown paper bags and telephone books with covers removed. Paper must be clean and placed in clearly marked containers separate from trash. Papers may be put out for disposal in clearly marked paper bags. Plastic store bags are not recyclable and should not be used to put out paper or other materials for recycling as they clog up the sorting machines.

- Non-recyclable materials include anything contaminated with food such as containers for cereal, pizza, frozen food, eggs and other edibles; also aerosol cans, motor oil bottles, paint cans, photographs, paper plates and cups, Styrofoam containers, ceramics or pottery; light bulbs, window glass, crushed or broken glass, envelopes and waxed paper or coated cardboard.

More information may be obtained from the DPW, BFI or the Center for Ecological Technology at 112 Elm St. (413) 445-4556.